Barry Wordsworth conducts Tchaikovsky

A handsome prince, a malevolent sorcerer, and a princess transformed into a swan: from Matthew Bourne’s stunning contemporary reinterpretation to the movie Black Swan, the story of Swan Lake continues to capture our imagination. But it all begins, and ends, with Tchaikovsky’s extraordinary music – by turns melancholy, poetic and heartbreakingly passionate.

In this concert, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and veteran ballet maestro Barry Wordsworth devote the whole of the second half of the concert to Swan Lake. It’ll make a stirring climax to a concert that also includes the Piano Concerto No.22 by Tchaikovsky’s favourite composer, Mozart. Mozart originally played the piano part himself but believe us, the “exemplary” (The Guardian) British pianist Leon McCawley is a lot more than just the next best thing!

As for Sibelius’s Karelia Suite; well, you might remember it as the theme from This Week. It’s one of those pieces that you can’t stop humming for days afterwards.

Pre-Concert Talk with Helen Martin and Barry Wordsworth, £2.50, Subscribers £1.50
Studio | 6.15pm